Lower Rear Guard Assembly / Rear Bumper Lower Valance (or Diffuser)
SKU:
673009299
$310.00
- Type: A multi-component assembly that forms the lower section of the rear bumper. This often includes the main valance panel and can integrate elements such as exhaust tips cutouts, mesh inserts, or diffuser fins.
- Function: The primary functions of this lower rear guard assembly include:
- Aesthetics: A key visual element of the rear of the vehicle, contributing significantly to its sporty and elegant design. It completes the look of the rear bumper.
- Aerodynamics: For performance-oriented vehicles like the Ghibli, the lower rear section often incorporates design elements (like diffusers) to manage airflow underneath and behind the vehicle, reducing turbulence and improving stability at higher speeds.
- Protection: Offers a degree of protection to the underside of the vehicle and the exhaust system from minor impacts, scrapes, or road debris.
- Exhaust Integration: Provides the precise cutouts and mounting points for the vehicle’s exhaust tailpipes.
- Components: Typically consists of a main molded plastic panel, which may be unpainted (ready for painting) or have a specific finish (e.g., matte black, gloss black). It might also include internal reinforcement brackets, mounting hardware, and potentially separate mesh grilles or decorative inserts around the exhaust openings. It does NOT include the exhaust tips themselves, the main upper bumper cover, or parking sensors.
- Location: Mounted to the very bottom of the rear bumper, extending downwards and sometimes slightly underneath the vehicle.
- Material: Primarily made from durable and semi-flexible automotive-grade plastic (e.g., polypropylene, ABS) to absorb minor impacts without cracking. Some variants may feature carbon fiber or gloss black inserts for aesthetic enhancement.
- Design: Precisely contoured to integrate seamlessly with the Maserati Ghibli’s rear bumper and overall body lines, ensuring a flush fit, refined appearance, and optimal aerodynamic performance.
Rear Cross Member Assembly
SKU:
673009001
$154.00
- Type: A major structural component of the vehicle’s chassis, typically a robust, welded metal frame or cradle situated at the rear of the vehicle. As an “assembly,” it usually includes the primary cross member structure and often pre-attached bushings, mounts, or specific brackets.
- Function: The primary functions of this rear cross member assembly are crucial for the vehicle’s dynamics, safety, and structural integrity:
- Rear Suspension Mounting: Provides the primary attachment points for the complex rear independent suspension components (e.g., control arms, multi-links, shock absorber mounts), which are essential for precise wheel control, handling, and ride comfort.
- Differential Support: Serves as the robust mounting platform for the rear differential, securing it within the chassis and helping to manage torque transfer and vibrations.
- Structural Rigidity: Enhances the torsional rigidity and overall stiffness of the rear end of the vehicle, contributing to improved handling, reduced body flex, and a more refined driving feel.
- Crashworthiness: Designed as an integral part of the vehicle’s rear crash structure, absorbing and distributing impact energy in the event of a rear-end collision, thereby protecting the passenger compartment and fuel tank.
- Exhaust Routing/Mounting: May include provisions or mounting points for the exhaust system components as they pass through or attach to the rear of the vehicle.
- Components: Typically a welded steel or aluminum structure. The “assembly” (ASS.) often signifies that it comes with pre-installed rubber bushings (e.g., for subframe-to-chassis attachment), and potentially some minor brackets. It generally does not include the differential, drive shafts, or individual suspension arms, as these are separate components that bolt onto the cross member.
- Location: Situated at the rear underside of the vehicle, spanning across the width of the chassis, beneath the trunk/boot floor.
- Material: High-strength steel alloys for robust designs or lightweight aluminum alloys for reduced unsprung mass and enhanced performance, chosen for their superior strength-to-weight ratio and ability to absorb impact energy.
- Design: Precisely engineered and manufactured with specific mounting points and geometry to ensure exact alignment of the drivetrain and rear suspension components, critical for the Maserati Ghibli’s sophisticated handling characteristics and ride quality.